Visible index



Nov. 2, 1948. F.'s. SCHADE 2,452,687

VISIBLE INDEX Filed May, 13, 1944 I ATTORNEYS atented Nov. 2, l l

nrrso STATES FFICE VISIBLE INDEX Frank Stanley Schade, Holyoke, Mass,

to National Blank Book Company,

assignor Holyoke,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to trays for supporting visible index records andhas particular reference to improvements in the construction andmounting of the separating sheets by which the records are divided intogroups, generally alphabetical.

The records for automatic bookkeeping machines are frequently arrangedin trays having separating sheets with alphabetical or other markings,the records for a partitcular subdivision being made on cards locatedbetween the separating sheets in an echelon arrangement. Previousconstructions have had the disadvantage that the separating sheetstended either to pile up on each other as they were turned or to offerresistance to turning due to the fact that they were in some wayanchored in position. It is the object of this invention to avoid thesedifficulties and to improve the constructtion of the separating sheetsand the method by which they are releasably held in the tray.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawing in which Fig. l is a perspective view of the tray of the type towhich the invention relates;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the construction of theseparating sheets and their holding mechanism; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the method of mountingthe holding mechanism for the sheets.

The tray has a generally rectangular base I to which wings 2 and 3 areheld by a hinge structure t. These wings are preferably supported bylinks 5 sliding in slots 6, although this detailed construction forms nopart of the present invention. Seated on the bottom of the tray betweenthe wings 2 and 3 are a plurality of separating sheets 1, generally ofstiff cardboard and having on their tops suitable indexing means notshown. The opposite ends of the separating sheets are each provided witha small roller 8 extending a short distance inwardly from the end of thesheet and provided with a longitudinal cut in which the bottom edge ofthe sheet is secured as by a suitable adhesive. It is not necessary oreven desirable to extend the roller construction throughout the entirelength of the sheet as rollers an inch or two long at the ends of thesheet will give ample support. The function of the rollers is to cause aslight separation of the sheets one from another and to assist in theease with which they can be swung through the angle determined by thatbetween the wings 2 and 3. The bottom of the tray is preferably coveredwith a longitudinally corrugated soft material 9, such as corduroy, andis preferably raised in its central portion in to support the recordcards.

It is desirable for several reasons, including that of preventing onesheet from climbing on the next when they are turned, to provide thesheets with an anchoring mechanism insuring that they will remain insubstantial contact with the bottom of the tray. This means consists ofa rod i2 at each end passing through slots iii in the sheets. It ispreferable that this rod be removable so that the sheets may be takenout if desired. For this reason the rear end of the rod is located in asuitable recess (not shown) in the wail of the tray while the front endis located in an open recess in a plate it. The rod is held againstendwise movement by a plate slotted at it and held in position forendwise movement on the tray wall by rivets ll extending through theseslots. The plate has a hole it which, when the plate is slid to the leftas viewed in Fig. 3, will be located in alignment with the end of therod. The rod can then be removed and the sheets taken out or rearranged.

While the manner of supporting the individual record cards ll laterallyis immaterial as far as the present invention is concerned, a simple wayis to provide rods i9 extending from front to back of the tray atregular intervals. The record cards are provided with recesses it withthe same spacing as these rods so that the cards can be arranged in anydesired manner such as an echelon formation and will be supported inthat ar rangement until lifted out and reset on the rods in a differentposition. This permits the cards to be regrouped in alphabeticalformation as desired. The separating sheets are cut away as at 2! toclear the rods ii and the elevated part ll] of the tray bottom on whichthe cards rest.

I claim:

1. A visible index holding tray having end bot tom portions, the portionof the bottom of the tray intermediate the end portions being at ahigher elevation than the end portion and continuous from end portion toend portion, a plurality of separating sheets having end portions thelower edges of which rest on the end bottom portions of the tray, theportions of the lower edges of the separating sheets intermediate saidend portions being spaced above the elevated intermediate portion of thebottom of the tray, said elevated intermediate portion forming acontinuous support for the lower edges of record cards positionedbetween the separating sheets, and rod means spaced above the surface ofthe elevated portion.

2. A visible index holding tray as in claim 1 in which the end portionsof the separating sheets are provided with cylindrical roller membersextending the full length of the end portions of the bottom of the tray,the supporting surface of the end portions being corrugated to receivesaid roller members.

FRANK STANLEY SCHADE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Vilas Dec. 7, 1897Number Number Number Name Date Hagans May 14, 1918 Bowman Sept. 2, 1919Hunter Apr. 9, 1929 Cooper Oct. 24, 1933 Roscoe Sept, 22, 1936 BruenApr. 29, 1941 Martin Aug. 10, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateNetherlands 1925 Great Britain June 12, 1924 Great Britain 1930

